greg54
I don't have the CPU meter showing.  I have to go into Task Manager.  

There is a Performance widget that might be off screen or not checked, right click on the tool bar and see if this is checked. 
But even though your thread title say's CPU, I highly doubt that is really causing distortion.
An i5 is way more capable of running 100 audio tracks. 
 
I am thinking the issue is possibly a routing issue, You might be distorting a buss. You didn't mention if you looked at your track routing yet. 
 
There is a slim chance your audio interface is broken, but I doubt it. 
Messing with the computer is not where distortion will come from, your computer is fine. Running the DPCLAT test is the best way to settle that issue. So stop worring about the computer and focus on routing or somehow determining what could be wrong with the interface and connections. 

In the Performance module, they're not even - one is a bit more than the other, but not by that much.
I'm not getting pops or clicks.   Don't know what a drop out is.    But when you say "static," are you referring to static coming through the speakers when I open Sonar?   In fact, I think I get static before I open Sonar.   
And I'm thinking about getting an i7 920 processor.  
 
Thanks!
Greg
 

Cactus Music
There is a Performance widget that might be off screen or not checked, right click on the tool bar and see if this is checked. 
But even though your thread title say's CPU, I highly doubt that is really causing distortion.
An i5 is way more capable of running 100 audio tracks. 
 
I am thinking the issue is possibly a routing issue, You might be distorting a buss. You didn't mention if you looked at your track routing yet. 
 
There is a slim chance your audio interface is broken, but I doubt it. 
Messing with the computer is not where distortion will come from, your computer is fine. Running the DPCLAT test is the best way to settle that issue. So stop worring about the computer and focus on routing or somehow determining what could be wrong with the interface and connections. 

I did check track routing, and it's set on Master.
If it's not the computer, then it has to be the interface.  No?  Maybe I got one that's defective in some way (?).
 
Thanks!
Greg

greg54
In the Performance module, they're not even - one is a bit more than the other, but not by that much.
I'm not getting pops or clicks.   Don't know what a drop out is.    But when you say "static," are you referring to static coming through the speakers when I open Sonar?   In fact, I think I get static before I open Sonar.   
And I'm thinking about getting an i7 920 processor.  
 
Thanks!
Greg
 

 
"...are you referring to static coming through the speakers when I open Sonar?   In fact, I think I get static before I open Sonar..."
 
I mean static during playback and recording of a project.
 
It appears you have done what you can do to optimize your CPU performance in SONAR, short of upgrading the CPU.
 
I agree with Cactus Music, your audio distortion is not a result of a cpu issue, but I wasn't writing to address this matter. As I said earlier in this thread I've been writing to address your concern of a strained CPU issue.
 
You might get better help by starting a new thread titled more appropriately to get help with an audio distortion problem. It could be a defective audio interface, bad or poor quality cables used to connect your gear, or bad speakers/monitors.
 
 
Do you get the distortion when you use headphones?
 
Have you tried a different cables to connect your monitors?
 
Do you get this distortion when listening at low volume levels?
 
Do you get this distortion when you connect your audio interface to other speakers/monitors.
 
Is the volume level control on your monitors too high, and that can be causing the distortion?
 
Is there any sign of small cuts, tiny tears, or unglued seals on the monitor drivers?
 
 

thomasabarnes
You might get better help by starting a new thread titled more appropriately to get help with an audio distortion problem. It could be a defective audio interface, bad or poor quality cables used to connect your gear, or bad speakers/monitors.
 
 
Do you get the distortion when you use headphones?
 
Have you tried a different cables to connect your monitors?
 
Do you get this distortion when listening at low volume levels?
 
Do you get this distortion when you connect your audio interface to other speakers/monitors.
 
Is the volume level control on your monitors too high, and that can be causing the distortion?
 
Is there any sign of small cuts, tiny tears, or unglued seals on the monitor drivers?

The distortion problem is really only when I record guitar and amp.   I don't get it with MIDI.   In fact, I just recorded acoustic guitar, and no distortion.   It's just electric guitar through amp.   I will have to check all connections, cables, speakers, etc, with my amp.
When I play the song back, the only thing that's distorted is the guitar track - not the whole track; just certain things, like the lower notes, or if I play high notes a little too hard (even though the signal is not hot at all).
 
Thanks!
Greg

Is your electric guitar pick up single coil or humbucker?  If single coil, you could be picking up electrical noise from a florescent light.  Also, you could have a loose wire in your guitar.
One time I was playing my electric through an actual amp, and when I used a chorus pedal (cheap one that I bought used), I notices a lot of static.  I thought it might be the pedal, until eventually, my tone got noisy with any pedal (or not pedal at all) and then I lost my signal.  It ended up being a broken wire in my jack.
 
This might be a wild goose chase, but it is something to look at, especially since it appears that you have exhausted the computer and interface side of things.

Sorry if it is a silly question - is your input gain too high?  Are you clipping?
 
Bob Bone
 

dwardzala:    I use both single coil and humbuckers.   It makes no difference.
 
robert_e_bone:    Input gain - are you talking about in Sonar?   I have the gain on the interface low.   It's not clipping.
 
Thanks!
Greg

How is the amp being recorded?

 

greg54
The distortion problem is really only when I record guitar and amp.   I don't get it with MIDI.   In fact, I just recorded acoustic guitar, and no distortion.   It's just electric guitar through amp.   I will have to check all connections, cables, speakers, etc, with my amp.
When I play the song back, the only thing that's distorted is the guitar track - not the whole track; just certain things, like the lower notes, or if I play high notes a little too hard (even though the signal is not hot at all).

 
Hi Greg:
 
OK That does narrow down the possible causes of the distortion.
 
Sounds like the type/quality of cable can still make a difference, especially gold connector cable. Have you tried using different cables, yet?
 
Did you use the auto sens function of your audio interface?
 
Have you tried using both of the inputs on front of the unit with the Hi Z button on the back of the unit on and off? Was there any difference? Even though the input level is not clipping, have you tried turning the level down even more, so that the distortion goes away?
 
If you record vocals using the front input connectors (that would be with the Hi Z button off,) is there distortion?
 
Again, is the distortion there when using headphones?
 
Can you report back concerning the above questions?
 
Scook asks a good question: How are you recording the Amp?